Geely has launched its new Leishen EM-i hybrid system, otherwise known as NordThor 2.0, boasting thermal efficiency of 46.5% and potential range of 2,390km
The new technology, which claims a fuel consumption of just 2.67-litres per 100km will debut first in the Galaxy Starship 7 SUV which was revealed in images earlier this week and which will makes its official debut on November 4.
It’s intended to compete directly with BYD’s latest DM-i 5.0 platform which recently debuted in the Qin L saloon claiming over 2,000km of range. BYD’s DM-i hybrid technology has spurred on their incredible monthly sales totals of well in excess of 300,000 units and Geely clearly wants a slice of the action.
Their new EM-i platform, which differs from the standard NordThor EM-P system used in Lynk & Co products, combines a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine producing 82kW (110hp) with an 11-in-1 electric drive system featuring dual motors. We know at least one of these, known as P3, can produce peak power of 160kW or 214hp.
In addition to regular petrol, the engine can run on methanol, a fuel that Geely has been pioneering with its Emgrand saloon for over a decade, particularly in the city of Guiyang where methanol Geely taxis make up over 90% of the city’s fleet. You can learn more about that technology in the video below.
The 11-in-1 electric drive system is comprised of P1 and P3 electric motors, a SiC module, VCU (vehicle control unit), TCU (transmission control unit), PDU (power distribution unit), a control system, transmission, and an active traction control system.
The whole system is proven to be effective in temperatures as low as -35°C and, with an overall efficiency of 92.5%, marginally outperforms the comparable BYD system. It’s also combined in such a way that the vehicle will remain operational even if one of the components fails.
Geely will be hoping its new system can emulate in their sales the impact DM-i has had for BYD, who have posted sales of almost 2.5 million units to date in 2024. By comparison, Geely sales are just shy of half that, but with the ever-improving Galaxy range, which now includes the L6 and L7 hybrids, as well as the E5 and E8 BEVs, plus the upcoming Starship 7, things may be set to improve.
What we know already about the Starship 7 is that it is a 4.74-metre long mid-size SUV that’ll debut the EM-i (NordThor 2.0) plug-in hybrid technology. It’ll come with a choice of batteries, a 19.09kWh option for 101km of electric-only range, and a 29.94kWh battery that extends that to 150km.
Geely debuted the technology on October 30th alongside images of an as-yet-unannounced model testing in prototype camouflage. The car clearly bears Galaxy range design features under the wrap suggesting a smaller hybrid saloon slotting underneath the L5 could soon join the line-up.
